Access Keys

Menu access keys provide keyboard access to functionality and application menus without the need to use mouse selections.

For example, selecting the Alt + F access keys together displays the contents of the File banner menu.

Menu access keys should not be confused with bindkeys, as bindkeys do not require a menu to be displayed before a bindkey “shortcut” can be used.

For example if you want to open the Editor Options form (for example in the Virtuoso Schematic Editor) directly, you can use the “O” (Shift + O) bindkey. It is not necessary to use the Edit menu access keys (Alt + E) to first of all display the contents of the Edit menu.

When you have displayed a menu’s content further menu access keys may be used to run any of the sub-menu options listed.

When content of a menu is on display you cannot use bindkeys.

Once you have used access keys to display the contents of the Launch menu you can then use a further access key to select an application menu to be added to the banner menu. After an application menu has been added to the banner menu you can then use their associated access keys to display their menu content.

For example, to display the content of the AMS menu on the banner menu you would:

1. Select the access keys Alt + L to display the content of the Launch menu.
2. Select the access key M to display the contents of the Mixed Signal Options sub-menu, where the AMS option can be found.
3. Select the access key A to add the AMS menu to the banner menu.
4. Select the access keys Alt + A to display the content of the AMS menu on the banner menu.

Related Topics

Quick Reference - Menu Access Keys